Further, Middlebury’s actions raise questions about why Dartmouth, with an endowment of $2.2 billion — four times Middlebury’s — is making budget cuts that include eliminating varsity swimming and diving, consolidating libraries, and laying off 30 employees.

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Dartmouth looked at spending endowment money to bolster its finances, but ultimately rejected the idea, said Julie Dolan, Dartmouth’s associate vice president for financial affairs.

�Over the long term we want to preserve the purchasing power of our endowment,� Dolan said last week. To do that during poor economic times, the college needs to spend less from the endowment, she added.

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[Middlebury President John] McCardell said Middlebury would also be measured by �our commitment to people, which is a special characteristic of this college, and which I here reaffirm: to students �, to faculty, and to staff.�